Service member dies after rappelling fall at UT San Antonio game

A member of the U.S. Air Force died on Saturday after attempting to rappel from the rafters before a University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)-Navy football game.

The service member, whose identity has not yet been revealed by the Air Force, was taken to a local hospital after the fall, where he later died.

Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs said he was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, per the Associated Press .

An investigation is underway into the event at UTSA’s annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game. He was one of four scheduled to appear in the pre-game rappelling demonstration.

A video circulating around social media shows the man falling from the ceiling feet-first. He was treated on the field for several minutes before being taken away in a gurney.

“We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game,” UTSA posted in a statement on the social platform X .

“We recognize that members of our campus community may be emotionally affected by this incident and are activating wellbeing services to support our faculty, staff and students,” the university added.

The game was delayed by 10 minutes. According to the Associated Press, UTSA Coach Jeff Traylor told reporters after the game that the accident was “heartbreaking” and “tragic.”